title: In vitro anti-microbial activity of the Cuban medicinal plants Simarouba glauca DC, Melaleuca leucadendron L and Artemisia absinthium L.
abstract: In the present study, an extensive in vitro antimicrobial profiling was performed for three medicinal plants grown in Cuba, namely Simarouba glauca, Melaleuca leucadendron and Artemisia absinthium. Ethanol extracts were tested for their antiprotozoal potential against Trypanosoma b. brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania infantum and Plasmodium falciparum. Antifungal activities were evaluated against Microsporum canis and Candida albicans whereas Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used as test organisms for antibacterial activity. Cytotoxicity was assessed against human MRC-5 cells. Only M. leucadendron extract showed selective activity against microorganisms tested. Although S. glauca exhibited strong activity against all protozoa, it must be considered non-specific. The value of integrated evaluation of extracts with particular reference to selectivity is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Marianao, La Habana, Cuba. ayme@ipk.sld.cu
authors.forename: Aymé Fernández-Calienes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Valdés
authors.forename: Judith Mendiola
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Ramón Scull
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lizama
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vermeersch
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cos
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031171:Artemisia absinthium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D003462:Cuba; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D031650:Melaleuca / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032272:Simarouba / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts